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Filed' Jan. A17, 1934. 2 sheets-sheet 4 www we w; um..

H, W. HACKER PRINTING PLATE BLOCK 2 sheets-shea( 2 v Filed Jan. 1'7l 1954 Patented Mar. 10, 1936 vunir star-ss PRINTING PLATE BLOCK Horace W. -Hacker, La Grange, Ill. Y

Application January 17, 1934, .serial No. '107,015 iolaims. (o1. 101e-382) My invention relates to printing plate blocks and more particularly to the structure of lumber from which printing plate bases or blocks` may be cut to the respective sizes of the plates to be mounted thereon.

It is the purpose of my present invention to so produce lumber of the type specified that the warping, swelling and shrinking of the lumber and printing plate bases or blocks cut therefrom will be reduced to a minimum or entirely eliminated.

In describing the structure constituting my invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a printing plate base or block cut from lumber made in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2, a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of my invention;

Figure 3, a perspective view partly broken away of a printing plate base or block cut from lumber embodying a modification of'my invention; and

Figure 4`, a section on line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure l my improved blocking lumber is shown as comprising a plurality of oubical wood blocks l cemented together side to side to form a unitary piece of lumber. The blocks l0 are shown arranged so that the grain of each block runs at right angles to the grain of every other block cemented thereto. This relative grain relation of the blocks serves to equalize the swelling and shrinking movement of the wood across the grain and with the grain, it being well known that wood swells and shrinks in response to atmospheric changes, to a much greater extent across the grain than it does with the grain. In addition the structure shown in Figure 1 contemplates the impregnation of the lumber with moisture-proofing material, such as wax and oils, sol as to! prevent atmospheric moisture from penetrating the blocks l0 and also prevent excessive drying of the blocks, either of which conditions, unless eliminated, are detrimental to stability of form and size of block lumber or blocks cut therefrom as a result of swelling or shrinking of the wood. In order for wood to be effectively protected against penetration of moisture and excessive drying by the impregnation previously referred to, such impregnation must be thorough and deep and not decrease the normal nail penetrable and nail holding characteristics of the wood or enhance the possibility of the wood splitting under nailing along the edge and at the corners of a base or l.block cut from my improved lumber. I-Ieretofore it has not been possible to impregnate one piece boards `of blocking lumber of the requisite dimensions with the thoroughnessy essential to permit such .boards to be `sayved and planed without exposing inside fibers which 'thegimpregnation has not reached. By constructing blocking lumber as shown in Figure 1, I am enabled to impregnate the individual elements of the lumber before they are cemented together with the essential thoroughness to permit the assembled lumber to be sawed and planed with common woodworking tools without exposing unimpregnated inside fibers and thus I enhance the efficiency of the product in respect to stability of form and size. Where impregnation of the blocks l0 is resorted to before they are cemented together the relative arrangement of the grain of the blocks heretofore referred to is not essential as such impregnation would achieve the desired stability of the individual units as to form and size and a corresponding stability of lumber formed from the units would naturally exist. The only requirement where, pre-impregnation of lumber units is resorted to is that such units be of a type in size or form that will permit complete and thorough irnpregnation. They can be cemented together in any relation with respect to grain direction. For instance, the lumber could be made up of preimpregnated sheets of wood veneer cemented together one upon the other, it being possible to thoroughly impregnate such thin sheets of wood regardless of their length and breadth. I have shown such a form of lumber in Figure 2 wherein the sheets of wood veneer are indicated at I0'.

In the form of my invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 the blocks H have the same relative grain arrangement as the blocks Ill in the form shown in Figure 1. However, in the form shown in Figures 3 and 4, I am enabled to obtain a more equalized air exposure of the faces o-f each block and at the same time provide a structure wherein a very thorough impregnation of the blocks with moisture-proofing material may be effected after the blocks have been cemented together. To this end I provide each block with a banding groove I2 so positioned that when the blocks are assembled the grooves l2 of the various blocks cooperate to form intersecting passages extending entirely through the lumber between its upper and lower surfaces, said passages obvously having the dual function of increasing the surface Contact of the blocks with impregnating material when such impregnation is effected after the blocks are cemented together and of providing an increased area of atmospheric contact for each block in completed lumber. Of course in producing the form of my invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 the impregnating of the blocks Il can be effected before they are cemented together. Under such conditions the passages formed by the grooves I2 will effectively tend to equalize the area of contact of the surfaces of each block with the atmosphere.

I claim:

1. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut, said lumber comprising a plurality of wood blocks cemented together side to side, said blocks having formations embodied therein which produce a plurality of passages extending entirely through the lumber between its upper and lower surfaces and opening through opposite edges thereof.

2. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut, said lumber comprising a plurality of wood blocks cemented together side to side, said blocks having grooves in their lateral faces producing a plurality of intersecting passages extending entirely through the lumber between its upper and lower surfaces and opening through opposite edges thereof.

3. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut, said lumber comprising a plurality of wood blocks cemented together side to side with the grain of one block running at an angle to the grain of each block cemented thereto, said blocks having grooves in their lateral faces producing a plurality of intersecting passages extending entirely through the lumber between its upper and lower surfaces and opening through opposite edges thereof.

4. Lumber from which printing plate bases are to be cut, said lumber comprising a plurality of wood blocks impregnated with moisture-proofing material and cemented together side to side with the grain of one block running at right angles to the grain of each block cemented thereto, said blocks having grooves in their lateral faces producing a plurality of intersecting passages extending entirely through the lumber between its upper and lower surfaces.

HORACE W. HACKER. 

